Abstract

A grand history of criminology in South Africa - its key concerns, prophets and disciplines - still needs to be written. For those interested in the trajectory of criminology, there is little more than Van Zyl Smit's pioneering but short enquiry into the making of criminology in South Africa. The task of writing a truly composite history would be a challenging undertaking. First, there would be many parts to such a history. Secondly, the story itself would lend itself to different interpretations. After all, in twentieth century South Africa criminological 'thinking' and 'doing' has been shaped by context-specific variables, competing ideological persuasions and rather distinct theoretical approaches to the subject matter.